Apparatus for delivering articles



April 12, 1932. PARFETT v APPARATUS FOR DELIVERING ARTICLES Filed Feb.20, 1950 2 Sheets-Sheet mvgmon FRHHK PHRFETT .54; RHEYS PER April 12,1932. V PARFETT' 1,853,926

APPARATUS FOR DELIVERING ARTICLES Filed Feb. 20, 1950 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 lw-i-o 34 35.37 3

IN VEN TOR FRfl/IK PHRFEU' PER i? FRANK PARFETT, or Lennon,

of movement being raised to form abutments Patented Apr. 12, 1932 UNITEDT TES I a 7 OF LONDON,

ENGLAND AriaAn-Arus F03 DELIVERING ARTICLES 3 Application filed.February e0, 1939, Sean- 0.

The present invention has for its object to provide a simple andreliable mechanism for delivering successively periodicals or the likefrom an accumulation of them accommodated in a suitable compartment."The invention can beused with a coin freed mechanism whereby upon theinsertion of a predetermincd value of coinage inan appropriate part ofthe apparatus the mechanism will be freed for delivering one periodicalfroma stack ofperiodicals within the compartment. f i 1 f My inventionis broadly characterized in that the articles to be delivered areaccom-. modated in a compartment and are engaged successively by anendless band or a recipro eating sliding member adapted in one directionof its movement to be forced between the uppermost pair of a stack ofarticles to be delivered whereby the uppermost article becomes supportedby the sliding member, and in the other direction of its movement to beprojected with the said uppermost article outside the said'compartment,means being provided for moving the stack of articles a distance equalto the thickness ofone article upon each delivery of an article wherebythe articles are successivelyfed to theplane at which they are engagedbysaid reciprocating a member for delivery outsidethesaidcorfi- Vpartment.

The said reciprocating member is preferably a fiat tray onplatenoperating in a horizontal plane and reciprocating through a slot in onewall of said compartment, the edges of the tray parallel with itsdirection for the corresponding edges of the article be: ing delivered.The compartment may be a box accommodating the whole of the mechanism orit may be constituted by a panel containing' the said slot andlocated ina wall of a bookstall or shopwhere an attendant can readily replenishthe stack when required, However, it is preferred for the apparatusto beself-contained. Q I A j The stack of books, folded'newspapers or otherarticles it" is desired to deliver are mounted in a neatstack upon: theupper surface of a suitableplatform which is mounted 430,007, and in GreatBritain March 2, 1929,

to move upwards-by a succession of shortv movements and for such purposeis guided and loaded in any suitable manner. For instance it can bearranged to slide along vertical guides and be connected by suitableligatures to adepending weight, or it can be AT NTerFIC ENGLAND,Assrenon or ONE-HALF TO MYER zAne,

carried by a vertical pillar slidable in a telescopic manner in a fixedverticalsleeveac- 'commodating a coiled compressionspring;

urging the pillarjupwards. a V

A suitable abutment normally engaging the uppermost article" of thestack of'articles predetermines the position of the uppermost articleand thisabutment is arranged to be" moved automatically at theappropriate moment to enable the reciprocating tray be delivered.Inadvance of, or simultane- 5 ously with'the inward movement of the tray:to engage the uppermost article a suitable device is brought intooperation to prevent to slide under theuppermost article to re anymovement of the said platform until the said abutment consequent upontheremoval of the uppermost of the articlesjis returned to its normalposition, wl 1ereup on theplat form is automaticallyreleased to enableit to move upwards under the influence of the said suspended weight orcoiled compression spring until the uppermost article "abuts I "againstthe said abutment. Thi'sfrestraining devicemay be a friction brake typeof device operating on the said 'slidable pillar carrymg the platformand normally out of opera- 7 tion but brought automatically intooperation upon the commencement of actuating the apparatus todeliverrthe desired article;

The apparatus can be manually or electrically operated and is preferablyprovided with any suitable coin release mechanism necessitat ng theinsertion of a predeter mined value of coinage before the apparatus canbe operated. In, order to avoid compli: V cationsm description -I haverefrained from showing a coin release mechanism'or an elec tricallyoperated prime mover as there are available many suitable devices forthis purpose.

In order that my invention may be clearly understood and readily carriedinto effect, I have appended hereto a sheet of drawings illustrating forexample a manually oper-' ated self-contained apparatus for successivelydelivering articles from a stack, and wherein i Fig. 1 is a perspectiveview showing a suitable configuration of outer casing accommodating themechanism of the apparatus.

Fig. 2 is a part sectional front elevation view of the operatingmechanism.

Fig. 3 is a side elevation view of Fig. 2 showing the normal conditionof the operating mechanism.

Fig. 1 is a broken side elevation view showing the first stage ofoperation of the mechanism.

..Fig. 5 is a broken side. elevation view showing the stage in theoperations at which the reciprocating tray picks up the uppermostarticle of the stack of articles.

Fig. 6 is a detail perspective view showing a suitable device forregulating the movement of the abutment which predetermines the positionof the uppermost of the stack of articles, and

Fig. 7 is a detail sectional elevation view to a larger scale showing asuitable form of friction device for restraining movement of theplatform supporting the stack of articles during the delivery of anarticle.

Referring to the drawings the operating mechanism is shown asaccommodated in a box-like casing 1 which can be supported on suitablefeet 2. The various parts of the mechanism receive their operation froma main shaft 3 which is axially rotated in suitable bearings 4 when itis desired to deliver an article from a stack of articles 5. The desiredrotation of the shaft 3 can be effected by a lever 6 secured at one endto the shaft 3 and carrying a lateral handle 7 at its free endprojecting through a slot '8 in the casing 1.

. The stack 5 of books or other articles is supported upon a platform 9carried by the upper end of a vertical post 10 slidable in a telescopicmanner in a fixed sleeve 11 which can be provided with a flange 12 atits lower end whereby it can be bolted to the base of the casing 1. Astrong coiled compression spring 13 accommodated in the sleeve 11 andalso preferably in the post 10 urges the platform 9 with its load ofbooks or other articles 5 upwards against a normally stationary rocatethrough an opening 16 in the front wall of the casing 1 along guides 17.

The plate 15 is normally located with its rear edge nearly touching thefront edge of the uppermost book or other article 5 and when the shaft 3is rotated by a rearward movement of the handle 7 the plate 15 is forcedbeneath the front edge of the uppermost article 17 a and ultimatelybetween such uppermost article and the one immediately beneath it untilthe plate reaches the position shown in Fig. 5, in which position itsupports the uppermost article and has a slight clearance from or only avery light contact with the-article immediately beneath it. In order todeliver the article now supported by the plate 15 the shaft is rotatedin the reverse direction by returning the handle 7 to its. normalposition, when the plate 15 is protruded through the opening 16 so thatthe book or other article carriedby it can be removed.

The sliding plate 15 can be op-eratively connected to the shaft3. by apair of arms 18 extending. from'the shaft and links 19 connecting thesearms to lugs 20 depending from the plate 15. i

When dealing with periodicals orymagazines their flexibility can beutilized to assist inintroducing: the plate 15 between the up permostpair for which purpose the abutment 14- is forced sli htly downwards andrearwards along the uppermost booknntil the book has puckered up asshown in Fig. 4 a suflicient amount to enable the plate to slide underthe uppermost book when the abutment 14 is raised clear of the stack ofbooks as shown in Fig. 5. l

The abutment 14: is preferably a block of rubber formed with arcuateedges as shown so that it does not injure" the articles 5 and is fixedto the free end of an arm 21 extend.- ing downwards from the upper endof a crank 22 fixed to a transverse shaft 23 free to rotate in suitablefixed bearings 94. The shaft 23 is connected for rotation to the shaft 3by a crank 25 at one end and a connecting rod 26 pivoted to a crank 27fixed to the shaft 3.

i The abutment 14 is maintained in contact with the uppermost book. andforced along it to obtain the puckering action as above described forthe desired period by forming a lateral projection 28 (see moreparticularly Fig. 6) on the arm 21, this projection 28 normally residingin juxtaposition to the front edge of a horizontal. lateral extension29aof a pawl 29 pivoted to a fixed bracket 30 by a pin 31. he pawl 29 isprevented from moving upwardsfrom' its normal position by reason of theengagement of the lateral extension 29a with the lower edge of thebracket 30 consequently when the sliding plate 15 is urged inwards thelateral projection 28Qcarried by the arm 21 must slide under the pawl 29the time taken for the amount of movement required for the pro-2 jection28 toclear the paw1-29 beingthat required to enable the plate 15 toenterbetween the .uppermost pair of books 5 after which the projection28 trips'over the pawl 29 and strikes the lower edge 30a of the brackiet30 -whichis inclined rearwa-rdly upwards to permit the abutment '14; torise clear of the,

uppermost book under theinfluence of a coiled tension spring 32connected to thearm' plate 15, the lateral projection 28 of the arm21can slide between the lower edge of the bracket-30 and the pawl 29,, acoiled tension spring 33 ensuring the pawl 29 at the completion of thesequence of operations returned to its normal-position. 7

It is desirable during the operations of" sc lecting and delivering thearticles; to prevent any movement of the platform '9 under the influenceof the spring 13, but to release the platform for such movementimmediately the plate 15 is projected. through .theopening 16 in orderto'bring the remaining-uppermost article against the abutment 14;readyfor a recommencement of the sequence'of operations. 7 For thispurpose I provide a device withthe sleeve 11 which upon commenc ing tooperate, the apparatus is brought into operation to act as a brake onthe post 10 to restrain its movement. v The device is more clearly shownin Fig. and consists ofla friction shoe 3% slidable in a radial passage.35 in a collar 36 surrounding the sleeve lland normally engaging thepost 10 under the slight pressure of a coiled compression spring 37.

normally in the extended position and located between the shoe 34; and alikeimember 38 carrying a roller v39 disposed between the limbs of abifurcated extension-4:0 of the col-t [ar 36; The roller 39" is pressedby the spring 37 against a cam like'member 4C1 fixedzin'a spindle 42mounted across the limbs of the operation the coiled spring37 is setunder compression. and the brake shoe 34 applies sufficient ressureagainst the ost10 to re-v vent it froinmoving during thedesired period.To obtain a quick operation ofathis brake device the cam like member 41normally presents a straightse mental edge to the roller 39 as shown inFig. 3, the remainder of the periphery of the member 41 being. cir-vcular and concentric with its spindle 42., Itwill be apparent that theinvention can being be adapted to the delivery of packets of articlesother than books and the likeparticular- Iy-packets of stationery,handkerchiefs and otherjflcxible articles. 1 a

' I claim:'

i 1. Apparatus for delivering articles com-' prising in combination acompartment in which the. articles to be delivered areaccom adaptedinone direction of its movement to be forced between the'uppermost pair ofa stackf'of articles to. be delivered whereby the uppermost articlebecomes supported by the sliding member and in the other direction ofits movementto be projected with the-said upperinostlarticle outsidethecontainer compartment, means for moving the stack of articles a distanceequal to the thickness of one article upon each delivery of an articlewhereby the articles are'successively fed to the plane'at-which they areengaged by said reciprocating member for delivery-outside the saidcompartment, said means comprising aplatform adapted to support thestack of articles, means adapted toimove the platform to raise thestack, means to prevent movement of the platform during the displacement of the reciprocating sliding mem ber across the top of thestack, said means comprising -acompression spring, loadedbrake shoe inwhich its spring is normally extended, .means beingprow'ded' for placingmodated, a reciprocating sliding member said spring, under compressionautomatically upon operationof the apparatus to set the reciprocatingplate into action.

' 2. Apparatus for delivering articles com? prising in combination acompartment or the likein which the articles to be delivered areaccommodated, a reciprocating plate'slid- V ably mounted to movethrough. a partition, a platform on one side of saidpartition adapted tosupport a stack of articles, an abutment adapted to engagethe stack,means for forcing said platform towards the abutment against which theuppermost article on the stack is pressed so asto present one edge toone'edge of the-reciprocating plate, means for forcing said platebetween the uppermost pair of articles in a stack of articles supportedon said platform in one direction of movement of the plate, and meanswhereby said abutm'ent is restrained against movement away from thestack until the sliding plate is located between the uppermost pair ofarticles but is moved clear of the stack of articles thereafter untilthe plate is returned to deliver the article above it.

- 3; Apparatus for delivering articles com-V abutment adapted tojeng'agethe stack, means for forcing said platform towards the abut I abutmentis restrained against movement away from the stack until the slidingplate is located between the uppermost pair of ar ticles but is movedclear of the stack of articles thereafter until the plate is returned todeliver the article above it, and means to prevent movement of theplatform during the displacement of the reciprocating sliding memberacross the top of the stack.

&. Apparatus for delivering articles comprising in combination acompartment or the likein which the articles to be delivered areaccommodated, a reciprocating plate slidably mounted to move through apartition, a platform on one side of said partition adapted to support astack of articles, an abutment adapted to engage the stack, means forforcing said platform towards the abutment against which the uppermostarticle onthe stack is pressed so as to present one edge to one edge ofthe reciprocating'plate, means for forcing said plate between theuppermost pair of articles in a stack of articles supported on saidplatform in one direction of movement of the plate, means whereby saidabutment is restrained against movement.

away from the stack until the sliding plate is located between theuppermost pair of articles but is moved clear of the stack of articlesthereafter until the plate is returned to deliver the article above it,and means to prevent movement of the platform during the displacement ofthe reciprocating sliding member across the top of the stack, said meanscomprising a compression spring loaded brake shoe in which its spring isnormally extended, means being provided forplacing said spring undercompression automatically upon operation of the apparatus to set thereciprocating plate into action;

5. Apparatus for delivering articles comprising in combination acompartment or the like in which the articles to be delivered areaccommodated, a reciprocating plate slidably mounted to move through apartition, aplatform on one side of said partition, adapted to support astack of articles, an abutment adapted to engage the stack, means forforcing said platform towards the abutment against which the uppermostarticle on the stack is pressed so as to present one edge to one edge ofthe reciprocating plate, means for forcing said plate between theuppermost pairof articles in a stack of articles sup ported on saidplatform in one direction of movement of the plate, means whereby saidabutment is restrained against movement away from the stack until thesliding plate is located between the uppermost pair of articles but ismoved clear ofthe stack of articles thereafter until the plate isreturned to deliver the article above it, means to prevent movement ofthe platform during the displacement of "the reciprocating slidingmember across the top of the stack, a shaft connected for rotation to anoperatinghandle or other suitable prime mover, which shaft isoperatively connected to said sliding plate, said abutment and saidmeans for preventing movement of the platform.

6. Apparatus for delivering articles comprising in combination acompartment or the like in which the articles to. be delivered areaccommodated, a reciprocating plate slidably mounted to move through apartition, a platform on one side of said partition adapted to support astack of articles, said platform being carried on the upper end of apost slidable in a fixed guide with which is associated spring means,for urging the platform towards an abutment against which the uppermostarticle on the stack is pressed so as to present one edge to one edge ofthe reciprocating plate, means for forcing said plate between theuppermost pair of articles in a stack of articles supported on saidplatform in one direction of movement of the plate, and means wherebysaid abutment is restrained against movement away from the stack untilthe sliding plate is located between the uppermost pair of articles butis moved clear of the stack of articles thereafter until the plate isreturned to deliver the article above it.

7. Apparatus for delivering articles comprising in combination acompartment or the like in which the articles to be delivered areaccommodated, a reciprocating plate slidably mounted to move through apartition, a platform on one side of said partition adapted to support astack of articles, said platform being carried on the upper end of apost slidable in a fixed guide with which is associated a spring forurging the platform towards an abutment, against which the uppermostarticle on the stack is pressed so as to present one edge to one edge ofthe reciprocating plate, means for forcing said plate between theuppermost pair of articles in a stack of articles supported on saidplatform in one direction of movement of the plate, means to preventmovement of the platform during the location of the reciprocatingsliding member across the top of the stack, said means comprising acompression spring loaded brake shoe in which its spring is normallyextended, means being provided for placing said spring under compressionautomatically upon operation of the apparatus to set the reciprocatingplate into action, and means whereby said abutment is restrained againstmovement away from the stack until the sliding plate is located betweenthe uppermost pair of articles but is moved clear of the stack ofarticles therelike in which the articles to be delivered areaccommodated, a reciprocating plate slidably mounted to move through apartition, a plat form on one side of said partition adapted to supporta stack of articles, said fplatform being carried on the upper end 0 apost slidable in a fixed guide with which is associated a coiledcompression spring for urging the platform towards an abutment againstwhich the uppermost article on the stack is pressed so as to present oneedge to one edge of the reciprocating plate, means for forcing saidplate between the uppermost pair of articles in a stack supported onsaid platform in one direction of movement of the plate, means toprevent movement of the platform during the location of thereciprocating sliding member across the topof the stack, said meanscomprising a compression spring loaded brake shoe in which its spring isnormally extended, means being provided for placin said spring undercompression automatica 1y upon operation of the apparatus to set thereciprocating plate into action, means whereby said abutment isrestrained against movement away from the stack until the sliding plateis located between the uppermost pair of articles but is moved clear ofthe stack of articles thereafter until the plate is returned to deliverthe article above it, a shaft connected for rotation to an operatinghandle or other suitable prime mover, which shaft is operativelyconnected to said sliding plate, said abutment and said means forpreventing movement of the platform.

9; Apparatus for delivering articles, such as periodicals, newspapersand the like comprising in combination a compartment or the like inwhich the articles to be delivered are accommodated, a reciprocatingplate slidably mounted to move through a partition, a platform on oneside of said partition adapted to support a stack of articles, anabutment engaging the stack, which is forced thereagainst by a springacting vertically upwards below the platform, said spring beingcontained within a telescopic post carrying the platform, the lower partof said post being fixed, a cam carried on a fork secured on the fixedpart of the post, a spring loaded brake shoe adapted to be pressed ontothe movable part of the post by rotation of the cam to hold the saidmovable part against movement, means for restraining said abutmentagainst movement until the slidlng plate is in a suitable location, andmeans for actuating said sliding plate, said cam and said abutment intimed relation.

10. Apparatus for delivering articles, comprising in combination acompartment or. the like in which the articles to be delivered areaccommodated, a reciprocating plate slidably mounted to move through apartition, a platform on one side of said partition adapted to support astack of articles, an abutment engaging the stack, which is forcedthereagainst by a spring acting vertically upwards below the platform,said spring being con- "tained within a telescopic post carrying theplatform, the lower part of said post being fixed, a cam carried on afork secured or formed on the fixed part of the post, a spring loadedbrake shoe adapted tobe pressed onto the movable part of the post byrotation of the cam to hold the said movable part against movement,means for restraining said abut-J.

ment against movement until'the sliding plate is in a suitable location,ashaft con-V nected for rotation to an operating'handle, I

which shaft is operatively connected to said sliding plate, said cam andsaid abutment to operate same in timed relation.

11. Apparatus for delivering periodicals,- ncwspapers or like flexiblearticles compris ingin combination a compartment or the like in whichthe articles to be 'delivered'are if mover, a reciprocating member tothe shaft and carrying the abutment, said reciprocat-' ing member beingadapted to be moved in one direction so that a part of it rides over auiding surface inclined rearwardly away from said platform butcontaining a relatively movable pawl member over which the said part ofthe said abutment carrying member rides during the initial movement ofthe reciprocating plate into the stack of articles, a telescopic, posthaving a fixed lower portion provided. with an upwardly acting springcarrying the stack supporting platform, a cam actuated spring pressedbrake shoe mounted on the fixed part of said post and adapted to engagethe movable part to prevent motion thereof, a lever and'link system toeffect the rotation of the cam'upon the rocking of the actuating shaft,and connections to said operating shaft whereby the said sliding plateis reciprocated when the shaft is rocked, whereby the abutment, thesliding plate, the cam, and the stack carrying platform are adapted tomove in timed relation. y p

' FRANK PARFETTn

